A multisectoral group has launched the possible tandem of Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio and Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca in the presidential elections in May 2010, ABS-CBN News online said on Sunday. The Panlilio-Padaca Para sa Pagbabago Movement (PPP Movement) said only Panlilio and Padaca can deliver the neede change in the Philippine if they are elected president and vice president, respectively. The tandem was launched by several sub-groups on Sunday as the government of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo reels over accusations that it fails to curb corruption because many of its officials, including her husband Mike Arroyo, are pereceived to be involved in it. Arroyo's critics have accused her husband of involvment in the alleged broad band scam, a controversial and overpriced telecommunications contract between the government an a Chinese company. Former Commission on Election (Cemelec) chairman Benjamin Abalos was forced to resign from his post after his name was dragged into the controvery. Arroyo's husband denied any involvment in the deal. The PPP Movement is backed by unknown groups like Kaya Natin Movement, Pampamsang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka and the Philippine Alliance of Ex-Seminarians, ABS-CBN said. The members of the PPP Movement said they remained unfazed that the chances of Panlilio, a Catholic priest on leave, and Padaca winning in the elections are slim. Panlilio is a priest, who went on leave from the Catholic church after he won the governatorial election from former governor Mark Lapid and Lilia Pineda, husband of a rumored jueteng kingpin. Padaca, a polio stricken lawyer, beat political giants in Isabela province in the 2004 polls. They rely heavily on the two governors track records of cleanign their provinces of graft since they had beaten big political names in their respective provinces in the 2004 elections. The group also urged the public to contribute at least P1 to help in the campaign. Reports said Panlilio was not closing his doors to the possibility of him running in the 2010 polls with Padaca as his running mate. Saying that he is not afraid to lose, Panlilio admitted that he is more afraid to win “because it will be a big responsibility,” ABS-CBN quoted the priest on-leave as saying.
